Programming device



Jan. 10, 1967 WARD 3,297,915

PROGRAMMING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 6a.

United States Patent 3,297,915 PROGRAMMING DEVICE James A. Ward, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 5, 1966, Ser. No. 547,844

Claims priority, application Germany, May 15, 1965,

5 Claims. (Cl. 317-99) The present invention relates in general to a boxor frame-like electrically and/or electronically controlling ofiice machines, which device is adapted to extend the range of functions'of such machines thereby improving their flexibility and versatility in operation.

In the art of office machines it is well known, by establishing combinations of current paths by means of switches, to initiate and perform a variety of functions and operations, in addition to the main program of the machine. The use of switches for the purpose of extending and selecting current paths is, however, not adapted to permit a maximum utilization of the machine. Therefore, so-called plug-hub boards or fields have already been used for some time in the art of programming ofiice machines, or the like. The plug hubs or female connectors are arranged on a board or frame-like structure, with some of the hubs connected to the power-supply unit of the machine so as to apply the supply voltage, whereas others of the hubs are connected to the components and circuits to be controlled. Interconnection of the power-supply hubs and the circuit hubs iseifected by means of plug-hub wires or patch cords. One advantage of such an arrangement consists in that a single power-supply hub is sufficient to selectively apply a voltage to one of several circuit hubs. Another very important advantage consists in that the contemplated use of a plug-hub board favorably bears upon the dimensions when designing the machine.

The programming device of the present invention permits augmentation of the advantages of a plug-hub board. According to one embodiment of the invention, the contact pins or plug hubs are mounted in two plates which are disposed in spaced relationship, one of the plates having its contact pins inserted into the hubs or female connectors of the power-supply unit of the machine, while the other plate carries certain components and/or circuits required for controlling the operations of the machine. The contact pins or plug hubs of the two plates may be electrically interconnected by means of patch cords. Thus, theprogramming device of the present invention is characterized particularly in that it comprises two plates which are interconnected in spaced relationship, the space between the two plates depending upon the interconnecting means and being of such a size as to permit selective connection of the contact pins projecting inwardly from one plate with the contact pins or plug hubs projecting inwardly from the other plate, the outwardly directed contact pins of one of the plates being inserted into the hubs of the powersupply pack, and the outwardly extending contact studs of the other plate being adapted to receive small diodecarrying frames which are selectively interchangeable and pluggable in different positions,

According to the disclosed embodiment, the diode frames may be provided with a plurality of diodes or other electronic circuit modules. High flexibility of a machine equipped with app-licants novel programming device is attained not only by the capability of changing the current paths between the two plates of-the programming device, but also by the ability to change the positions of the diode frames with respect to the contact pins, and, finally, by removing the programming device itself from the female connectors of the power-supply unit and substituting therefor another programming device.

In the following, an embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view of'a programming device of the present invention, partly provided with contact pins, plug hubs, and diode frames;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the programming device of FIGURE 1 with diode frames arranged in a different configuration;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the vice;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the programming device with diode frames arranged in the configuration shown'in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 shows a'diode frame mounting four diodes;

FIGURE 5a is a bottom view of the diode frame shown in FIGURE 5, and shows the contact surface in which the contact holes for receiving the contact pins are provided;

FIGURE 6 shows a diode frame with two diodes; and

FIGURE 6a is a bottom view of the diode frame shown in FIGURE 6,- and shows the contact surface together with the contact-pin receiving holes;

As illustrated by FIGURE 1, the comprises a base or bottom programming deprogramming' device plate 1 which is connected to a top plate 2 by means of interconnecting members 3. The length of members 3 is chosen so that space between base plate 1 and top plate 2 is sutficiently' large to accommodate the patch cords required for establishing the current paths and to conveniently permit the establishment of such connections without the use of tools.

Holes 5 are provided'in botttom plate 1 in'the form of a matrix, the array of holes covering a rectangular surface, for instance. Contact-pin holders or'plug'hubs 6 required for connection of the patch cords' (not shown) may be inserted into holes 5 and held in place in suitable manner. As illustrated by FIGURES 1 and 2, plug hubs 6 of plate 1 are provided preferably with outwardly extending contact pins 11 for connection to the powersupply unit. The inwardly extending ends 7 of contactpin holders 6 may be also designed as hubs. To insure proper insertion of contact studs 11 into the hubs of the power-supply unit (not shown), guide means 12 are provided, which are rigidly mounted in base plate 1 of the programming device at predetermined distances from each end of the plate and are adapted to cooperate with corresponding holes in the power-supply plate of the machine. Each guide element 12 is tapered at its outer end and provided with a groove or slot 13 which is engageable by resilient detent means, when the programming device is held in place on the plug-hub field of the power-supply unit.

Members 3 may be suitably fastened to base plate 1 and top plate 2 as by screws 4 or rivets.

The upper plate 2 is also provided with a rectangular matrix of contact-pin holders 6. In the embodiment of FIGURE 1, contact-pin holders 6 are provided with contact pins 10 (see FIGURE 2) which extend outwardly away from the upper surface of top plate 2. However, other arrangements are also feasible, e.g., diode frames 8, 9 to be disposed on top plate 2 may be provided with contact pins, in which case receiving hubs would be mounted in upper plate 2. The inwardly directed contact pins 7 in base plate 1 and the inwardly extending contact pins 7a in top plate 2 may be interconnected by means of conventional plug-hub wires or patch cords according to the respective program and functions to be performed by the machine.

The contact studs 10 projecting from the upper surface of top plate 2 serve to receive the small diode frames 8, 9. According to the present invention, switching cirminals 19 which are connected to the diodes as shown. The other ends are connected to female connectors 8b,

9b inserted into the holes in contact surfaces 811, 9a, of frames 8 and 9, respectively. Each diode 17 has its own power-supply terminal, whereas only one female connector 80, 9c is provided as common return for all diodes of a frame. It should be noted that, if desired, access to the common return for the diodes is available at cutaway portion 20.

' The programming device as proposed herein permits a considerably more flexible programming of office ma chines in that it permits not only performance of such programing through the agency of plug hubs or contact pins of two interconnected plates of the device, but also facilitates interchange of the circuits and components required for the performance of the various functions of the officemachine. A further advantage of the novel programming device is that the unique structure thereof facilitates interchangeability as a unit.

What is claimed is:

1. A frame-likeprogramming device for accommodating a plurality ofdiode frames and associated patch cords in electrically and electronically controlled oflice machines, comprising (a) upper and base plate means,

(b) contact means arranged in the form of a matrix on each plate means, 1

() means for interconnecting said plates in a spaced parallel relationshipto form a frame-like structure,

(d) a plurality of small diode receiving frames associated with said upper plate and provided with mounting apertures, 1

(e) said contact means including inwardly extending portions on said upper and base plates and-adapted to be selectively interconnected by patch cords,

(f) said contact means further including a plurality of pins extending outwardly from said base plate and adapted to establish connection to a plurality of female connectors of an associated power supply unit,

(-g) guide means on said base plate for providing proper engagement between said outwardly extending pins and said female connectors,

(h) said contact means still further including means projecting outwardly from said upper plate for registering with a plurality of said mounting apertures on said small diode frames and adapted to engage therewith.

2. A programming deviceas set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a pair of outwardly extending studs provided with slots adapted for engagement with associated detent means.

5. A programming device as set forth in claim 1 where in said contact means include electrically conductive elements for connecting the diode frames in circuit with the female connectors in a predetermined manner under conditions where the patch conds are selectively connected between the contact means on the upper and base plate means.

4. A programming device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said diode receiving frames are provided with means to removeably mount diodes therein for electrical connection to said projecting means when in registration with said mounting apertures.

5. A programming device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said diode receiving frames include means to accommodate a plurality of diodes, and means for providing a common connection between like terminals of the diodes and one of said projecting means.

. No references cited.

ROBERT K. 'SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

M. GINSBURG, Examiner. 

1. A FRAME-LIKE PROGRAMMING DEVICE FOR ACCOMMODATING A PLURALITY OF DIODE FRAMES AND ASSOCIATED PATCH CORDS IN ELECTRICALLY AND ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED OFFICE MACHINES, COMPRISING (A) UPPER AND BASE PLATE MEANS, (B) CONTACT MEANS ARRANGED IN THE FORM OF A MATRIX ON EACH PLATE MEANS, (C) MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID PLATES IN A SPACED PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP TO FORM A FRAME-LIKE STRUCTURE, (D) A PLURALITY OF SMALL DIODE RECEIVING FRAMES ASSOCIATED WITH SAID UPPER PLATE AND PROVIDED WITH MOUNTING APERTURES, (E) SAID CONTACT MEANS INCLUDING INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTIONS ON SAID UPPER AND BASE PLATES AND ADAPTED TO BE SELECTIVELY INTERCONNECTED BY PATCH CORDS, (F) SAID CONTACT MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF PINS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BASE PLATE AND ADAPTED TO ESTABLISH CONNECTION TO A PLURALITY OF FEMALE CONNECTORS OF AN ASSOCIATED POWER SUPPLY UNIT, 